KUALA LUMPUR: With the number of licensed e-hailing drivers almost halved following the enforcement of the e-hailing regulation yesterday, ride-sharing users are advised to expect a longer waiting period with the possibility of paying more for the service.
E-hailing operators (EHOs), however, anticipated problems triggered by the shortage in e-hailing drivers would worsen when people return to work today and tomorrow.
Grab Malaysia said the number of its drivers who had obtained a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence was below 41 per cent.
“Another 24 per cent of our drivers are waiting either for the examination results or a slot to sit the exam. A further 22 per cent have dropped out due to various reasons, including the time and cost required to navigate the regulatory process.”
Malaysian e-hailing company, MyCar, told the New Sunday Times that up to 70 per cent of its 12,000 drivers had obtained a PSV licence.
Its founder, Mohd Noah Maideen, said the company was targeting to have 10,000 of its drivers within the Klang Valley fully comply with the e-hailing regulation by the end of this month.
The company, he said, had set a similar target for its remaining 2,000 drivers who were operating in other parts of the country, including Sabah and Sarawak.
Noah did not rule out the possibility of ride-sharing users waiting longer and paying more in the wake of the full enforcement of the e-hailing regulation.
“This is not because the company increased fares.
“We are anticipating a surge in demand for our services since there are fewer drivers.
“For the past few days, the company has been working around the clock to ensure we can get as many of our drivers to pass the examination and obtain the PSV licence.”
Grab Drivers Malaysia Association president Arif Asyraf Ali said he learnt that only 60,000 drivers with Grab Malaysia had obtained the PSV licence to date.
“Yes, there will be the possibility of Grab users waiting longer for the services.
“If there is an increase in the fare, it will not be that significant.
“And if there is an increase in the fare, it is not because the drivers or the EHO blatantly hiked the prices since we are bound by the regulations imposed by the Land Public Transport Agency.
“I believe that this problem (shortage in e-hailing drivers) will likely be resolved within the next three months,” he said, adding that the enforcement of the regulation would provide the association with more opportunities to fight for the rights and welfare of e-hailing drivers.
Both Noah and Arif welcomed the announcement by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who promised leniency to e-hailing drivers who were in the final process of obtaining their PSV licence.
Noah, however, hoped that the Road Transport Department would issue a letter for drivers who are in the process of complying with the regulation.
“This will provide e-hailing drivers proof that they are in the final stage of obtaining their PSV licence in the event of any operation (on full enforcement of the e-hailing regulation).”
During the official opening of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd’s komuter station in Nilai yesterday, Loke said the ministry was taking a gradual approach on the full enforcement of the e-hailing regulation.
“The ministry will still give them room as long as they (e-hailing drivers) have registered for their PSV examination or are taking steps to fulfil the requirements.
“This is because there might be some processes that will take time to complete,” Loke said in the report by Bernama.